The McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40 is a long-range, wide-body, tri-jet airliner manufactured by McDonnell Douglas between 1972 and 1988. It was the first wide-body aircraft to be developed and produced by the company, which had previously focused on smaller, narrower-body aircraft. The design of the DC-10 was based on the Douglas DC-8, with the addition of a third engine, allowing it to carry more passengers and cargo and to fly farther distances. The DC-10 was initially designed to compete with the Boeing 747 and the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, both of which had already been established in the wide-body aircraft market.

McDonnell Douglas decided to manufacture the DC-10 due to the increased demand for large, comfortable aircraft from the major airlines. The DC-10 was also more economical to operate than the other wide-body aircraft, due to its more efficient engines and cheaper maintenance costs. The first DC-10 was introduced in 1971 and was a huge success, with more than 400 aircraft sold by the time production ended in 1988.

The DC-10 has faced some issues with safety over time, most notably in the 1970s and 1980s. The most famous incident was the 1979 crash of American Airlines Flight 191, which killed all 271 people on board. This crash was attributed to a faulty engine and led to a redesign of the aircraft’s engines and other safety features, such as an improved thrust reverser system.

The DC-10 also brought several innovations to the aviation industry, such as its wide-body design, its efficient engines, and its high-tech avionics. The aircraft was also one of the first to be equipped with a modern flight management system and an on-board maintenance system.

The DC-10 is still a relatively common aircraft today, with more than 200 still in service, mostly operated by freight carriers. It is also still used by some airlines for passenger flights, although it is slowly being phased out in favor of newer, more efficient aircraft.

The DC-10 is a unique aircraft, due to its wide-body design and its efficient engines. It is also one of the few aircraft that can be used for both passenger and cargo flights, which makes it a versatile and cost-effective option for airlines.